Semitrailer



S. B. WINN June 11, 193s.

SEMITRAILER Filed July 27, 1952 5 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented June 11, 1935 {UNITED STATE SEMITRAILER y.

Sidney B. Winn, Lapeer, Mich. o Application July 27, 1932, Serial No. 625,011

2 Claimsl. (C1.A 28o-334i,"

My invention relates to semi-trailers, and particularly to means for raising the'forward` supporting leg'cf such vehicles'. In the adaptationof semi-trailers for use as '5 commercial vehicles it frequentlyl becomes necessary toprovide va drop frame for special bodies such asvoil tank bodies and the like. Thisis rnecessary in orde'rto keep the center of gravity as low 'as' possible and has made necessary the developrnent of a semi-trailer in` which thel rear portion 'of the yframe is'lower than the `forward portion. In order toiprovide for supporting the trailer when uncoupled fromv the tractor, it is a customary practice to provide awheeled support which maybe lowered to support the trailerwhen 'it is'uncoupyled` from the tractor andwhich is elevated when the'front of the trailer is supported by' the tractor. In order to'adapt such trailers to this particular work, itis necessary tokeep vthe coupler on the'trailer andthe various'operating mechanisms such as the mechanismv for elevatingfthe forward support Aentirely within a space" having a Vheight not to exceed the Awidth 'ofithe trailer frame.

" It is, therefore, an object of my present inventionV to provide Aa `semi-trailerv having a; novel -means for elevating its forward supports` said means being adapted to befcontained a space f 'having a-he'ight no greater 4than the width of the ltrailer frame'. i y 1 Itisa further object of` my present invention toprovidea semi-trailer havingnovelbrake op-` ings wherein'v I have shown a preferred embodif [ment of umy invention,y in which y isa fragmentary top plan view of .a semixtrailer,embodyingi myinvention;

2gisuafragmentary'view inside elevation `of the trailer shown in Fig. 1; t v Fig. r3 is a fragmentary front elevation `showing the trailer support in its lowered position;

Fig'. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4, AFigure 1',` showing the support in the raised posi- ,tion, thegforward end .of'ithe trailer beingv supported onthe tractor vehicle, a portion of which isshown; l Y

Fig. `5fis a.sectional=view` taken on line 5-5,

Figure l,'showing the brakelinkage at the rear Wheels of the trailer; l l

Fig. 6 is a sectional View takenon` line'B-6,

S. 'PATENT OFFICE;

Figure 1, of the fifth Wheell and c'ouplershowing the trailer coupled to the tractor. v

Similar referencenumerals are used Ito refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.-

Referring more in'detail tothe drawings, `6 desi ignates the frame Work of a .semi-'trailer and i comprises the side frame' portions and cross frame members'. I At the forwardendofthe side frames :are elevating Wheels 'I and table wheels 8. While Fig. l shows approximately onelhalf'fof such a,

trailer,'it is tobe understood that similar elevating and' table Wheels, andasimilar side frame,

are provided for the portion of thetrailer `not shown. f `Afl'lxedto the front cross'member-.o'f theframe f6 is1the coupler Sadapted for pivotally securing the trailer to the kingfpin 40- of the tractor 'fifth wheel 4I (Figs. 4"and-6). The 'number '|02 designates one ofthe rear ,wheelsl of the semi-trailer Lcarrying a brake drumill. 4A""Drake,voperating arm` I2 is provided at a point adjacent lthey said The wheel IU isf'secured coranl A axle I3, vwhichin turn is connected .Wthlthe frame brake drum I I of thetrailer byfmeans `of springs I4.;k y

In ordervvto support;theforwardend ofthe trailer when it is uncoupled from the tractor, I

provide a front trailer I supportingv member which -consists of wheels `I5 yand'. IB connected Ato, an y f axle ',I'I, held in a frame I8. -pivotallyconn'ected to the frame ofthe trailer at `a point-I9;l `The vforward `portion of the frame Ilijoins an axle 20,;which isv above and-parallel lto-the axle I'I.

The axle is journaled at eachjend in :members 2 I, whichare pivotally securedv to thetrailer frame wat a point 22,... A' plurality-1, of notches. 23` are `provided'in each of1themembers 2l.k :Each of themembers' 2I-isiprovided withgaportion 24 to `which is V. pivotally connected `a* lever2`5, Awhich Also secured to .the cross rod the arm 26, isla second arm `28, to which isoperatively connected the bar o 29, whichl extends through the front crossmemberofthe frame 6 and into `the* coupler 9. At the endfof kthe rod `29 adjacent the twurm a, a' brake'mcking memr`ber 5I is secured.

' The brake arm I2 is K o 30 to the brakeequalizing arm.'3kl.,fwhich is connected with' lme brake rod az'ftne'be11crank 4oz, v'the rod 43,'the bell-crank ,jthe' rod` 45,' the 'pivoted lever 46 and the `rotatable sh'aftll; 'A

v1s connectedto an arm/26,` Whichl is vsecured-,to -the cross 'rod^2'I;. 21 and adapted to causeit torotate and lto 'move i connectedthrough the rod brake operating finger 33 is secured to the shaft ture for use with a semi-trailer embodying my invention are the king pin 40, in which is mounted' a brake pin 48 for reciprocatlon therein, and a track 49 adapted to contact with the elevating wheels Tor the table wheels 8 of the trailer vehicle. A bell crank 50 is provided for moving the brake pin 48. It is to be understood that the bell crank 50 may be operatively connected with brake ope,c1-:rating n ieansA onjthe tractor vehicle in any desired manner. f'

The operation-.of a; device embodying my invention is as follows: i

Whenk the tractor and trailer vehicles are coupled for operation asa unit, the king pin 40 on ,the tractor yis engaged by thecoupler jaws 34 and 3,5., as shown inFigs. 4 and 6. The end of .the rod A29, projecting into the coupler head 9 between .the heels ofthe jaws 34 and 35, contacts with the, king pin 49 and is held in the posi` tionshown intheseviewsby this contact. When the tractor and trailer are so coupled, the trailer .support is held in its raised position as shown in Fig. .4, and the member 2| has been pivotedabout fthe point 22 so `as .to occupy the position` there shown.

- The brake `operating finger 33 contacts with )the'npper end of the brake operating pin 48. and

is raisedand lowered by movement of the brake operating pin 48 from` the bell crank 5|).` f The raising of the'brake operating nger 33 causes fa rotationof the shaft 41. and a shortening of the .entire brake linkage` exerting a braking forceon v,thebrake drums 'i a The coupler jaws34 and 35 may be locked in any desired manner so as to prevent uncoupling of the vehicles except upon release of thelocking means; .59

.is customary to apply the brakes on the trailer Whenitris Vdesired to uncouple the vehicles, it

'in the usual manner so that there will be '.no movement of. the trailer during the uncoupling operation.. The locking means on the coupler are then released and the tractor is moved awayfrom the trailer. This movement of the tractor causes a separation of the. tractor iifth wheel 4|A from .the coupler'on the-.trailer and causes-the king -pin 4|)Y to contact vwith the inner faces of the 'coupler jaws and 35 and spread them apart.

`As .the jaws 34 and 35-are spread apart, projections 34.-a"and 35-a on the heels ofthe jaws '34.r and135 engage in recesses in the sides of Ythe headof the rod .29* and exert a forward pull on the head and on the rod 29. This forward" pull,

transmitted'through the rrod 29 to 'the 1 ever28, causes a Vpivoting of the shaft 21 in a clockwise direction. 'Ihe movement of the shaft 2l Yis transmitted to the lever 26 and through' it to the rod t25. The rodv 25 being attached to the member 2|, this movement causesthe member 2| to swing downward and ,aboutl the pivot point 22. As the `memberf2|`t`hus moves,'the axle 20 attaehedto `jthe supporting` mechanism moves inthe track in ,of the coupler `rod`24.'`V` i, y

,When itV is` desired` to couple the vehicles,v4 the tractor vehicle is backed into the trailer vehicle 'Weight permits the the member 2 I. After movement of the member 2| is started, its swing downward is accelerated by the weight of the supporting member bearing on the axle 20, which moves in the track in the member 2 I, as above described. f

Notches 23 in the member 2| serve to hold th axle 20 at any point where the wheels I5 and I6 touch a supporting medium such as the ground or the like, and are held against further downward movement. The weight of the trailer and its load. then vcauses it to settle upon the support and bears'upon the point I9 "and the point 22. From both ofthese points the weight is transferred to the supporting wheels l5 and I6. The provision of a plurality of notches 23 inthe member 2| makes it possible to support the trailer at various points and permits uncoupling of the vehicles even though the forward support cannot drop to its lowest point. When the support is in its lowest position, the parts appearas shown in Figs. 1 2 andy 3.

In orderwqhola the brakes' on the trailer'lin the applied position, the cairil ispulled forward with therrod29 contacts witharo1lerrv 52 jat'- tached to thepnderside of thefbrake operating finger 33. This acts to Vraise the flngerf3'3y ifthe operator of the trailerhas neglected to apply trailer brakes prior to the uncoupling, or to the finger 33 in the raised or-brakelapplylngposition if the operatorV has appliedthe brakes', and the .roller 52 'remains in thisv time that thek vehiclesI are uncoupled.

n3151911 @urina il?? y If it is desired to move trailer as.a---serxiarate `vehicle'.wl'lilejthe,vehicles are uncoupled, a brake r4releasing mechanism 53.*(Eig. l) is pro-- vided. v This mechanism allowsfslaclgto` be put into the brake operatinglinkageback oi'` the brake operating shaft' 4l,V releasing trailer brakes.` without disturbing y, the Y positions jaws, v34 and. 35 ortheleg `elevating and the track 49 of the tractor Vfth wheel 4| Vcontacts with the elevating vwheels A.'l on. the trailer.

Further rearwardzmovement pennitscontactof the table wheels. with the track I49. Y This centers the` trailer -and` the coupler 9k relative ,tothe pin 40. `JFurther. rearward movement ofr the .king pin causes it to 4contact with the. head-o1' the rod129 andpush it rearwardly.; 'Ighis-.movement if `is transmitted vthrough the '35-11. to the coupler jawsA projections u-a and them to swing to the-closedposition.

krearward.,movement of ,the tractor V continues these movements until the rod 23 vassum the position shownin 4. Atxthis timek the lmember 5| is moved fromunder the roller ,5 2Qandlthe brakes arereleased and the .coupler jaws andlj are 'closed and locked about the'king'pi'n '4|l`.

lto

.f The action of the elevati'ngflwheels' lj vand table lwheels 3 with the track. 49" is ls'uclrthat.the

weight of the trailer andjitsload" isl carriedi'by from the supporting mechanism. l'lliisrelease'a' oi' notch 23 in which it Had-been helda'n'dlcontact rearward movement of vthe lrod '29 Vdin-img fthe .couplingaoithef vehicles justl described, is transthese wheels and thejtrackfand is' removed 'axle-'23 'drop' fromv fthe i mittedl through lthe'. lever 28 to the'ishai't 21fand by ittoztheelever 26.5f`Themovementpfgthe lever.

261is communicatedcto fthe rod/25fand causesfit to push downwardly on the projection Iton-the .membery :2 l..v This.: downwardly exerted 1to1-ca of r the attached supporting mechanism.

While I have illustrated and described one embodiment of my inventionpit is apparent that various changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction as herein set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims. n

Having thus' described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure'by Letters Patent of the United States isi:

1. A supporting mechanism for the forward end of a rear-wheeledv trailer, comprising, a

swinging prop unit` having its rear end pivotally' connected to the trailer toward the forward end of the trailer, cam elements pivotally mounted on the trailer toward the forward end of the prop unit and engaging the forward swinging end of the prop unit, the cam elements having their actuating portions engaged with the prop unit for causing the prop unit to swing upwardly when the cam elements are moved rearwardly, and actuating means for said cam elements extending thereto from the forward end of the y trailer.

`2. A supporting mechanism for the forward end f of a rear-Wheeled trailer, comprising, a prop unit, said prop unit incorporating a generally'v'ertically disposed framework carrying an axle and wheels at its lower end, and including spaced rearwardly extended bracing bars joined on a cross rod, the cross rod of said prop unit 'Journalled in said trailer, cam elements pivotally mounted on the trailer toward the front end thereof and engaging the upper end of the ver-iv tically disposed framework of the prop unit, the cam elements having their actuating portionsengaged with the prop unit for swinging the prop unit upwardly when the cam elements are swung rearwardly, and actuating means for said cam elements extending thereto from the'forward end of the trailer.` i

' SIDNEY B. WINN. 

